Door-operating device for musical instruments.



W. F. BAYER. DOOR OPERTING DEVICE POR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLwATIoN H1111) H1110, 1910. 1,015,609. Patented M1123, 1912.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 f ji r 1'l l 1 COLUMBIA PLANnGR/wn cu., WAS c.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

2 SHEBTS-SHBET 2.

W. P. BAYER.

DOOR OPERATING DEVICE POR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIGATION FILED PBB.10, 1910. l 1,01 5,609.

AMM#

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lWIIiIiIAlVlI F. BAYER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHASE 8c BAKER.

COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DOOR-OPERATING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23,1912.

Application filed February 10, 1910. Serial No. 543,065.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM F. BAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Door-Operating Devices for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to player-pianos, piano-players and similar musical instruments having hinged bellows-pedals adapt-- ed to be folded rearwardly through an opening in the front of the case, when not in use. Ordinarily, this opening is closed by one or more sliding doors carried by a wall or panel which is preferably removable to afford easy access to the main bellows and other parts for making repairs or other purposes.

One object of my invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and convenient operating mechanism for such sliding doors.

Another object is to so combine the dooroperating mechanism with said removable panel that it can be removed therewith, without dismembering or otherwise disturbing any of its parts.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure l is a front elevation of a piano embodying the invent-ion, showing the door closed. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the door, its supporting-panel and its operating mechanism, removed from the instrument. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of said parts. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4, Fig. l, on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A indicates the customary air reservoir of the main bellows, B the pumps, and C the foldable bellows-pedals which may be of any suitable construction. Those shown in the drawings are hinged at their front ends to a base bar D which is carried by -vertically-swinging arms Z pivoted to the reservoir A, the rear ends of the pedals being connected with the pumps by rigid arms e and links c1.

F indicates the wall or panel of the case arranged below the key table and containing an Opening f through which the pedals are folded into the case when not in use, as shown in Fig. 4. This opening is normally closed by a door G, preferably a sliding door, guided in ways z, 71.1 arranged On the inner side of the panel F.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the lower way or rail lil-is arranged a short distance below the panel and carried by brackets h2 screwed to the latter. The panel F is preferably removable, the same being fitted between the stationary upright side portions I of the front wall of the case and resting upon the fixed cross piece or sill J. The latter is rabbeted to receive the lower rail Ll, and provided with upright dowels or pins in which enter sockets in the lower edge of the panel, as shown in Fig. l. At its upper edge, the panel is provided with a catch or holder L, of any suitable construction, for retaining it in position. The upper edge of the removable panel stops short of the underside of the keytable sufficiently to permit its being lifted off the dowels Za', when released by the catch.

M indicates a hand lever for operating the door. In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, this lever is pivoted to swing horizontally upon a bracket m secured to the front side of the panel F at or near .its upper edge, so that the rear arm of the lever extends rearwardly through the slot or space between the upper edge of the panel and the key table. Pivoted to the rear side of the panel F is a verticallyswinging lever N, the short upper arm of which is connected by a link 0 with the rear arm of the hand lever M, while its long lower arm is connected with the sliding door Gr by a link 01. n indicates the pivot of the lever N. By this construction, the door is opened and closed by the movements of the hand lever in an obvious manner. As shown, the front arm of this lever is depressed to permit the operators hand to clear the underside of the key-table. By thus mounting all parts of the door-operating mechanism on the panel F, the latter together with said parts and the door can be readily removed and replaced practically as a single member, avoiding the necessity of disconnecting or separately removing other parts and greatly facilitating access to the main bellows and other parts in the lower portion of the instrument when required. This improved door-operating mechanism is moreover exceedingly simple in construction and affords a favorable leverage, enabling the door to be operated with comparative ease.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a musical instrument, a removable wall -or panel having a door-opening, a door applied to said opening, and means mounted wholly on and removable with said panel for opening and closing the door.

2. In a musical instrument, a removable wall or panel having a door-opening, a sliding door applied to said opening, a vertically-swinging lever mounted on said panel and connected with the door, a horizontally-swinging lever also mounted on said panel and accessible from the front side thereof, and means connecting` the hand lever with said vertically-swinging lever all of said parts being` mounted wholly on said panel.

3. A musical instrument having a wall provided with a pedal-opening, a sliding door for said opening, a hand lever mounted on said wall, and connections between said hand lever. and said door for operating the door.

il. A musical instrument having a wall provided with a pedal-opening, a sliding door for said opening, a hand lever mounted on the front side of said wall and eX- tending rearwardly beyond the same, and operating connections between said lever and the door, arranged on the rear side of said wall.

5. A musical instrument having a case provided with a removable panel containing a door-opening, a horizontally-sliding door applied to said opening, verticallyswinging lever mounted on the rear side of said panel and connected with the door, a horizontally-swinging` hand-lever mounted 4o on the upper portion of the panel and having an arm extending rearwardly beyond the same, and a link connecting the rear arm of said hand lever with said verticallyswinging lever.

Witness my hand this 5th day of February, 1910.

WILLIAM F. BAYER.

IVitnesses;

C. It. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

